The State government has ordered a magisterial probe into the Haldwani riot which took place on February 8 when the authorities demolished an illegally constructed Madarsa and a Namaz site on encroached land in the Vanbhulpura area of the city. The Kumaon commissioner Deepak Rawat has been directed to conduct the magisterial inquiry. In the letter issued to the Kumaon commissioner, the chief secretary Radha Raturi has stated that the State administration has decided that a magisterial inquiry should be conducted into the violence which took place in the Vanbhulpura and its nearby areas in Haldwani on February 8, considering the seriousness of the incident. The Kumaon commissioner has been directed to conduct a fair probe into the riot and submit a report to the State in 15 days. Considering the sensitive nature of the riot the commissioner is expected to accord personal attention to the matter, the letter states.

Meanwhile, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reiterated that strict legal action will be take against those who indulge in violence and mar the peaceful atmosphere of the State. Speaking at a public gathering in Almora on Saturday, the chief minister said, “Uttarakhand is Devbhumi and people here have always gone about their lives peacefully and in happiness. We will not allow the atmosphere of this Devbhumi to be sullied. Strict action will be taken against anyone who tries to mar the image of the State. The task of removing encroachments from government lands across the State will be continued in the same manner. The authorities will deal strictly with anyone who tries to prevent the execution of government work,” Dhami stressed.